Finding Unauthorized Faith…

“I don’t think we need to hear any more of your business dealings, thank you very much, Mundungus,” said Mrs. Weasley sharply, as Ron slumped forward onto the table, howling with laughter.

“Beg pardon, Molly,” said Mundungus at once, wiping his eyes and winking at Harry. “But, you know, Will nicked ’em orf Warty Harris in the first place so I wasn’t really doing nothing wrong—”

“I don’t know where you learned about right and wrong, Mundungus, but you seem to have missed a few crucial lessons,” said Mrs. Weasley coldly. ~ OotP, pg. 86, published June 21, 2003

Harry Potter has just arrived at 12 Grimmauld Place and is partaking in his first meal. Mundungus, the man who left his guard post to pursue a shady business opportunity, which led to Harry and Dudley being attacked by Dementors, is recounting one of his “business” deals. Apparently he stole a man’s toads, a man who had stolen them in the first place and sold them back to him for double the price. Mundungus’s justification? They were already stolen, so his stealing them from the thief wasn’t wrong.

Cring. My mom would have sided with Mrs. Weasley. “Two wrongs don’t make a right,” she says. And, I believe God agrees too—at least, that’s what I understand from reading scripture. Here’s one example:

Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable.Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.

Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,

“I will take revenge;I will pay them back,”says the Lord.

Instead,

“If your enemies are hungry, feed them.If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.In doing this, you will heapburning coals of shame on their heads.”

In God’s book, Mrs. Weasley and my mom are right. Mundungus stealing from a thief makes the act no more justifiable that if he stole from the owner. We aren’t to pay back anyone, rather we are to love everyone. That’s the message of the Bible—Love God and love others. Sadly, many miss this message or get so focused on rules and traditions that they forget about the core essential of love.

God loved us so we can love. His purpose for us is to live in Him, who is love, following his example of love, which is Christ, so that we can be love to everyone. Why? Because love is true life, and love redeemed us from death.

Mundungus is funny, but Molly is right. 50 points to this Gryffindor mom, and another 50 to my Hufflepuff mom because she’s the best. 😉